ACCRA, Oct 28 (The African Portal) – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has concluded a 10-day training programme designed to equip young people in Ghana with technical and entrepreneurial skills to boost competitiveness and drive economic growth.
The training, focused on AI-powered technology and innovation solutions, took place from October 13 to 24 at the University of Ghana Business School in Accra. It brought together 200 participants from various tertiary institutions across Ghana.
The programme was fully funded by ECOWAS and facilitated by Ramsy Info Tech Solutions Limited.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, urged participants to continue exploring and experimenting with emerging technologies to transform their lives and contribute to regional development.
“You are no longer just consumers of technology — you are becoming creators, thinkers, and problem-solvers who can build the tools that would positively impact on our regional integration trajectory in the unfolding global environment as we transition from ECOWAS of States to ECOWAS of People and Prosperity for All,” he said.
Commendation
He praised the trainers for their commitment and dedication. “I wish to convey a word of gratitude from the President of the ECOWAS Commission to our trainers, mentors, and organizers — thank you for your guidance, patience, and passion in making this programme such a success,” Amb. Gana said.
He also commended the participants for their enthusiasm and engagement. “And to our young participants — thank you for your energy, creativity, and willingness to explore the unknown,” he said.
Amb. Gana noted that artificial intelligence should be seen as a tool to empower rather than replace people. “AI is not about replacing people; it’s about empowering them,” he said, adding that “the true power of technology lies not in what we write, but in the impact we create with them.”
Certificates were presented to all participants at the end of the programme.
The initiative forms part of ECOWAS’s ongoing youth capacity-building programmes across member states. It aims to inspire creativity, strengthen problem-solving abilities, and encourage entrepreneurial thinking among young people, as part of the bloc’s broader effort to equip them with the skills needed to thrive in the digital era.
